This ought to bring some holiday cheer to anybody who cares about battlefield preservation. The Civil War Trust has an opportunity to acquire one of the most historic parcels of ground in the country at Brandy Station. I second Eric’s call to action: This is the time for all of us history aficionados to help make this happen.

If you’re like me and aren’t in a financial position to write a big fat check with lots of zeroes in it, here’s a simple way to pitch in. Lots of our friends and co-workers are scrambling around to find last-minute Christmas presents for us. What if we e-mailed these folks and asked them to take the money they’d normally spend on a gift for us and send the same amount to the Civil War Trust instead? Every little bit helps.

Alternatively, if you need to find a Christmas present for the history buff in your life, consider making a donation to the CWT in their name. They’ll appreciate that more than a sweater or fruitcake, and it’ll last longer.